Building Rating70% of readers like the Freedom Tower (New York).
What do you think?

Advertisement

W hen completed, this will be one of the most important buildings of the early 21st century. It is significant in stature, in design, in its politics, its symbolism, and for the reason it was built.

The Freedom Tower, or One World Trade Center, is the replacement for what was once New York's World Trade Center. In September, 2001 terrorists destroyed several of the Center's buildings, including the massive 110 -story twin towers. The stated reason for this action was to protest the United States' support of the nation of Israel and its people. The terrorist attack only served to solidify the bond between the U.S. and Israel, and caused wars in Afghanistan and elsewhere, and the toppling of the Taliban government in Afghanistan. Thousands died when the twin tower fell, and millions were emotionally and psychologically scarred.

The Freedom Tower is more than a real estate project. It is rehabilitation for those hurt by the terrorists and a way to heal the scar on a nation. Part of the healing process is new growth, which this tower represents. But it has been a painful process. The early designs were ridiculed. When the first cohesive plan came out of the pack it, too, found slews of detractors. New Yorkers are notoriously cranky people and they took aim at the design. Most had forgotten, or were too young to remember, that the original twin towers were also the subject of much vitriol for their design and expense. It was only after those towers were taken away that the city realized it had grown to love its pair of white albatrosses. But detractors stalled the project for more than a year, adopted celebrity real estate mogul Donald Trump as their mouthpiece, and embarrassed the city and the nation by allowing the United Arab Emirates to begin work on what would become the world's tallest tower while New Yorkers were busy sticking their thumbs in each other's eyes.

The current design is much less flashy than the previous one. It is something like a large sloping block with the corners carved off, so it appears that the entire building twists as it gets higher. The building's faces will be huge triangles that taper toward the top and the bottom. At the center of the building, they will form an octagon. The skyscraper is symmetrical. Asymmetry was something in the last design that set a lot of people off. Some people also don't appreciate the spire at the top. They forget that the Twin Towers had a spire, too, and the mast is necessary for communications transmitters.

The new Freedom Tower will pay homage to the twin towers in several ways. The base of the Freedom Tower will be 200 feet square -- the same dimensions as the original towers. The observation deck will be at 1,362 feet: the height of World Trade Center Tower Two. The glass parapet will be at 1,368 feet: the height of World Trade Center Tower One.

That square base is a safety measure, not just an engineering method. Though it will be clad in glass prisms, the 186-foot-tall base will be a windowless concrete wall, intended to absorb and deflect the blast from car or truck bombs. The glass prisms will be coated with plastic like automobile safety glass to help absorb the impact. It is hoped that the prisms will refract light into color and make the monolithic security measure an eye-pleasing curiosity. The Twin Towers were targeted by Islamic terrorist truck bombs twice, once successfully in 1993, before they were destroyed by terrorists in jets in 2001. The corners of the base will taper inward, with small reflecting pools at ground level.

The Freedom tower is just one of several buildings that will be erected to compose the new World Trade Center. The design is officially known as "Memory Foundations" because it leaves room for several memorials in the 16-acre complex. One of those memorials is the slurry wall, more commonly known as "the bathtub." This structure was the basement of the World Trade Center and served to hold back the Hudson River to keep it from flooding the complex. It was here that the remains of thousands of dead were found, and hundreds more who were never found. People will be able to walk down a ramp from ground level all the way down to bedrock along the edge of this wall -- the last original remaining piece of the twin towers.

Sculptor Kenneth Snelson is working on the spire at the top of the building.

The glass prisms at the base will each be 13-feet tall.

The base of the tower will be 186-feet tall.

The base of the tower will be 200-feet by 200-feet.

The top of the tower will be 145-feet by 145-feet.

The shaft of the tower will be 1,182 feet tall.

The main structure will be topped by a 408-foot-tall mast containing antennae. The base of the mast will be surrounded by a 145-foot wide ring containing more equipment.

The trees surrounding the Freedom Tower will be sweetgum trees.

The corner cutaways are each 186 feet tall. The Twin Towers also had chamfered corners.

The building tapers inward at an angle of 3.8 degrees. The chamfers taper outward at the same angle, resulting in a 16-foot overhang.

Floor space: 2,600,000 square feet.

Height to roof: 1,368 feet -- the same as to the roof of the old 1 World Trade Center

Height to tip of spire: 1,776 feet - the same as the year of the nation's declaration of independence.

29 May, 2003 - The New York Times reports that the Metropolitan Television Alliance has signed a deal to put as many as 22 antennae on top of Freedom Tower. The World Trade Center was home to many of New York's television and radio transmitters until the attacks of September 11, 2001. The Freedom Tower will be the new home to TV channels 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 28, 30, 31, 36, 38, 40, 41, 44, 45, 47, 53, 56, 61, and 68.

4 July, 2004 - Groundbreaking. A 20-ton granite slab is used as the cornerstone of the project. It is inscribed with the words "To honor and remember those who lost their
lives on September 11, 2001 and as a tribute to the enduring spirit
of freedom. - July Fourth, 2004."

9 November, 2004 - An architecture student sues the designers of the Freedom Tower. He claims the building was copied from his design for a skyscraper intended to be part of New York's 2012 Olympic bid.

16 December, 2004 - The World Trade Center victims memorial is revised. The new plan includes a Memorial Hall between the reflecting pools that will mark the footprints of the former World Trade Center. It will also include a grove of oak trees with a clearing for memorial services, and public access to the stumps of the columns that once held the Twin Towers aloft. The memorial is expected to cost US$500,000.00 and be completed by 2009.

3 May, 2005 - U.S. Senator Charles Schumer warns that the Freedom Tower project is in jeopardy. He notes that the steel has yet to be ordered, and claims that critics are being given too much attention, preventing the start of real construction. At the same time, the New York Timesreports that Kevin M. Rampe has quit as project leader.

29 June, 2005 - Amid much criticism from celebrity real estate moguls and the general public, a new design is released for the Freedom Tower.

April 27, 2006 - 21 months after the cornerstone was laid, it is announced that construction has formally begun on the Freedom Tower. The work was delayed because of disputes between the developer, Larry Silverstein, and the land owner, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The New York Timesnotes, however, that work actually began quietly a few weeks earlier while the two sides were still hammering out the details. Those details include a total of five buildings to be erected on the site of the World Trade Center, all to be completed by 2011. Mr. Silverstein gives up control of the Freedom tower to the Port Authority in exchange for control of more lucrative property in the complex. He will also pay higher rent.

June 27, 2006 - The design of the Freedom Tower is revised once again. The 186-foot-tall podium upon which the tower rests will now be covered by a screen of glass prisms, hiding the concrete base that has been often criticized for being too brutalist.

June 28, 2006 - The New York Timesreports that the Freedom Tower will have a sky lobby on the 64th floor. This is a controversial move because so many people died in the 78th-floor sky lobby waiting for elevators when 2 World Trade Center collapsed. The sky lobby in the Freedom Tower was necessitated by the June, 2005 design revision which decreased the building's footprint and restricted the amount of space available for elevator shafts.

April 18, 2008 - Pope Benedict XVI blesses the ground where the World Trade Center's twin towers once stood.

April 18, 2008 - WINSreports that a homeless man found two sets of confidential blueprints for the Freedom Tower in a trash can. He turned them over to the New York Post.

May 17, 2008: Structural elements start to climb above street level.

June 30, 2008: The Wall Street Journal reports that reconstruction of the World Trade Center could take 1-3 years longer and cost $1-$3 billion more than expected.

July 24, 2008: Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church agrees to sell its property next to the World Trade Center to the Port Authority for $20 million. The sale will give construction crews more space to work in and help speed construction of the Freedom Tower and other parts of the World Trade Center. The church building was destroyed in the terrorist attacks.

October, 2008: A report from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey indicated a revised completion date of 2013.

January 14, 2009: NY1 reported that the foundation of this building was completed.

March 25, 2009: The Beijing Vantone Industrial Company became the first company to lease space in this building. It signed a 23-year lease for floors 64 through 69.

March 27, 2009: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey came under fire for trying to eliminate the name "Freedom Tower" and only use this building's mailing address of 1 World Trade Center as its name.

August 4, 2009: The New York Daily News reported that the completion date of this building was pushed back to 2018.

November 18, 2009: Construction of this building reached the fourth floor.

March 30, 2009: An official announcement was made that the name of the building will be One World Trade Center instead of the Freedom Tower.

The building will be partially powered by 12 hydrogen fuel cells. They are expected to generate 4.8 megawatts of power for the Freedom Tower and other buildings in the World Trade Center.

MISHIBINIJIMA
Wednesday, October 1st, 2014 @ 8:48am
Rating: Three stars. I was in my artist studio when I witnessed this tragedy unfolding on television, I felt this feeling of artist dry spell coming on I felt years before and needed to face this head on the best way I can so I painted four MISHMOUNTAIN murals over five years until I over came it.

John Saggers
Tuesday, April 8th, 2014 @ 4:15pm
5 Stars. A truly moving experience when we visited 2 years ago.

Charles Martindell
Thursday, February 20th, 2014 @ 5:46am
Rating: Five stars. I was in the old tower 1 year before the 2 planes did both towers in. I cried when I watched the Towers collapse. I went up to the observation deck on the 107 floor and took Pictures and went up to the roof and took more Pictures of the other towers Tall antenna and the NY skyline. I am glad the NEW tower is built much safer. I have pictures of the old twin towers I took while on Vacation, before flying back to Kansas city Mo where I live, Marty....

ricky Etter
Saturday, January 4th, 2014 @ 10:04am
Rating: Five stars. The freedom tower is a graceful piece of art. It also makes a statement "We (US) can take anything that is thrown at us. We will still be here."

Kevin
Thursday, December 12th, 2013 @ 6:40am
Rating: Five stars. Last time I was up there the New York Yankees had won the World Series. Tickertape was flying around NYC. When the New Tower opens, maybe my son will treat me to a trip to NY this time. Great and tragic memories. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens when the Sun shines on it. That's the big challenge; and judging by its shape, my hunch is it's going to glow like never before. I hope it does, in loving memory of all those people who died and survived. I hope it BATHES in the Glory of God's sunshine.

SUDHANSHU
Saturday, November 23rd, 2013 @ 4:22am
Rating: Four stars. This building should shine and gleem for all to see and it should always remind us of what went before but never ever replace it

Bill Butler
Thursday, October 17th, 2013 @ 11:55am
Rating: Three stars. Although this new tower is beautiful, I think the architects could have softened the spire and blended it into the towers outer shell. The bulbousness of the spire detracts from the overall sleekness of the tower.

Elio M Fernandez
Tuesday, October 1st, 2013 @ 4:54pm
Rating: Five stars. The bricks are falling down, but we will build with stones: The sycamore tree are cut down, but we will replace them with cedar tree. Isaiah 9:10 Any coincidence this was found in the rubles of the destroyed building?

Carole Duran
Monday, September 16th, 2013 @ 9:43am
Rating: Four stars. I pray that we can have world peace. The tower is very pretty but I'm concern that the terrorists just laugh at us and wait to do it again. But yes, I think the Freedom Tower is very pretty.

Robert Marr
Friday, May 24th, 2013 @ 5:54am
I think it is a wonderful building and will be a symbol of remembrance for all those who lost their lives on that terrible day.

Gladys Rodriguez
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013 @ 4:57pm
Why do the Americans believe that they are always bigger and better than the rest of he world. The CN Tower in Toronto is taller than this one and always has been in North America. Then take a look at the rest of the world and the towers are much higher and much nicer.

Clay Berg
Monday, May 20th, 2013 @ 2:51pm
Rating: Three stars. Visited the nearly completed last week and couldn't help but wonder what would happen if a fully fueled Boeing 767 or 757 crashed into it. Would it collapse like a "House of Cards" like the original twin towers?

Breton James Bailey
Saturday, May 11th, 2013 @ 10:43am
Rating: Five stars. I think the single tower replacing two is a real show of strength and fortitude of the American people. It is the world's tallest memorial with the same number of walls as the Twin Towers had, eight! There are four walls tapering upwards and four walls tapering down. It is a Phoenix of the World Trade Centre and a remarkable symbol of American defiance. Perhaps the building should be named "Phoenix Tower One".

tony
Saturday, April 27th, 2013 @ 5:09am
Rating: Five stars. A sleek modern tower which by design faithfully remembers those passed and has some political compromise. Very peaceful, well done US.

Andrew McCafferty
Saturday, March 9th, 2013 @ 6:48am
I went to the top of the South Tower in 1994 simply because it was there.The Twin Towers had no architectural merit whatever. Their only claim to fame was that they were higher than the Empire State Building.The 9/11 atrocity should not make us nostalgic for the buildings. It should quietly evoke memories of innocents destroyed by misguided zealots hiding behind a religion to foster evil.

Paul
Sunday, March 3rd, 2013 @ 10:05pm
Rating: Five stars. Very nice but,a waste of money.These towers will atract the terrorists for another attack.Let the dead live and move on to better things.

Brad
Thursday, February 28th, 2013 @ 2:41pm
Rating: Four stars. THANKS to all of you from other countries for your good thoughts.

asdriel velasco
Thursday, January 10th, 2013 @ 5:40pm
Makes a statement that it's still the most powerful country in the world. Well done USA

John
Tuesday, January 1st, 2013 @ 11:30am
I've read many posts here and in ways I agree and then I don't. I too would've liked to have 2 Towers built again - not for all the architect's reasons and disapproval, but for a restoration of the "before times". However - they did become Iconic after 1972. I also see other's points - to build the TT again only better - but that would be too much of a reminder of and to those who lost loved ones and perhaps give merely a "new target" to the cowardice of the extremists who kept at the TT for years. It's not the first time they were attacked. The Liberty "World Trade" Tower (whatever it's being called schizo-phrenically today) - uses both core and outside reinforcement making it a far more powerfully standing structure than anything equal or taller today. That the Liberty Tower does not have the capacity of the Twins (less 800,000 sq ft) should not make any difference since the other towers now consume that difference from all the towers destroyed on 9/11/01. Indeed, many here wish the main tower to at least show the capacity of those 2 tallest destroyed, but I think it far more important that the Liberty Tower stands as an emblem,... a statement, if you will, to the perserverance of America's Financial Power and indicative of what portends to be the beacon to this day of our utter NEED and Truest Belief of Liberty and Freedom for all who are Citizen's of this Nation. That we have other's seemingly drooling for our demise to see themselves as "better" or "greater" means there's something here they cannot simply "manufacture" in their own belief structure for their people. Or hope their people can be blinded to the magnificents that we have worked so hard to maintain. This wasn't "AGAINST" them - but "FOR" them and who they'd rather suppress, depress, oppress, and hold accountable to an "Image" of their own "ghost" of power and enchanted greatness. They attack us from a fallacy that only their way is acceptable. And indeed, we must be gaurded in our dealings with these despots and untruthers. They will use religion, propaganda, lionize all and any other place or leadership in order to maintain and increase their hold on their populace in their lands. Far from shunning away - the American People must engage them - fully and on and on - as a vampire shuns garlic and the light - they shun us and will forever while they hide away or further lie to us because of their timid fear - we will destroy them, - for EVERY human being can see the light shown from our Grand Tower of Liberty and KNOW there is another way. Here you may and CAN hold your religion to heart - here you CAN and may carry on your life and your children's life without fear of beatings or prosecutions. In this, our Nation - America - The United States thereof - we are NOT perfect - never declared we were - but Liberty and Freedom is OUR most virtuous gift to all who declare they want her! Perhaps our Tower isn't all and everything to each - but it will Stand and it will Shine a stronger beacon than even that long ago gift from our ally France - "Lady Liberty" evoked in the Statue Thereof in our Harbor to Welcome those who've fought and waged their wars against the diatribes of evil leaders wanting nothing more than the utter loyalty they otherwise could not and would never get from a people they oppressed to the exclusion of what we here in America offer to share with those who would merely take up our laws of hurting no one else by your actions and not allowing other's to hurt you in yours. Indeed, taller than surrounding buildings making other's look drab by comparison - but Liberty Tower is the newest beacon of Hope for so many. Let the other buildings concern themselves with their appearance if need be. But Liberty Tower - will be seen far off shore at night and in the morning - those that come will see their struggle's end. They will know - as so many before,...they've finally found a Land Welcoming them - as a hundred or more years ago our people also saw the beginning of the end of their desires of such great need and for a glimmer of Hope - they were no longer to be adrift or beaten, but Home.

aaron Orosz
Thursday, November 29th, 2012 @ 12:15am
Rating: Five stars. BECAUSE TWO BLAND, GREY RECTANGLES WERE SOOO MUCH MORE APPEALING...(speaking from an architectural standpoint). It's 2012 not 1961. There are plenty of old structures to marvel. Get over it.

Sharon Grant
Tuesday, November 13th, 2012 @ 12:53pm
Rating: Five stars. I love this new tower. Way to show that you may knock us down, but we come back even stronger. God Bless The USA!

Patricia Parkinson-Thompson
Monday, October 29th, 2012 @ 12:13am
Rating: Five stars. United we stand, Divided we fall. Born and raised from NY. I will always stay true to my roots and i carry those in my heart who has fallen but not forgotten. REMEMBER and try not to criticize from which you came. lets not be a spoiled nation but a smart one. Keep your head up.

tom
Sunday, October 28th, 2012 @ 1:30pm
Rating: Four stars. Need to read the prophesy of Isa.9:10 the destruction of Israel mirrors the destruction of our great country

Deborah Bryant
Friday, September 28th, 2012 @ 7:20am
Disgusting. Off Balance. Doesn't fit the skyline. Build the towers and PROTECT THEM, would've been the plan. Bloomberg. Jesus. Now with the Ferris Wheel. God.

Jamie
Tuesday, September 25th, 2012 @ 6:45pm
Rating: Five stars. Love the new building, but am still concerned about how they are going to evacuate it should another catastrophe happen again. Are there safety measures in place this time?

Eddy & Margaret Schonenborn
Monday, August 27th, 2012 @ 9:36pm
Rating: Five stars. I love this New Tower! It looks Larger and Stronger than the Two that were felled. I believe if God brings you to it He wil also bring you Through it!!In God we Trust stay safe and Breathe. Enjoy life and the New look of New York's sky Line.I hope to visit there someday and walk amongst the Memorial of what was and enjoy what is.Thank -You for Sharing with the world Life after the Pain.

Jeannie
Wednesday, August 8th, 2012 @ 2:25pm
Rating: Five stars. United we stand! Two towers became united and one strong, beautiful tower replaces them. I love America, but America has to turn back to God to receive His protection again.

John
Tuesday, July 10th, 2012 @ 8:03pm
Rating: Five stars. God Bless America"We Will Never Forget"

Donna Wells
Friday, June 29th, 2012 @ 12:51pm
Rating: Five stars. I am proud of what is being build. This Country of ours is about Freedom. Yes it's very said what happen on 9/11, but we American's are strong people. I'm also proud of all the men that's working on the Tower, my son being one of them. I pray for their safety daily and safety for the USA.

Piotr
Tuesday, June 19th, 2012 @ 11:25pm
I love the New York City. Can not wait to visit the Freedom Tower.

Harrison Gray Otis
Monday, June 18th, 2012 @ 9:16pm
Rating: Five stars. I toured the original WTC in the early 1980s, and it was one of the most boring tall buildings I had ever seen. Everything, and I mean everything, was fabricated of cheap-looking shiny metal. And the way the two towers were just plopped there near the bottom of Manhattan like huge filing cabinets, oblivious to the city around them, and visually top-heavy because they had no taper, no set backs. Now I read post-tragedy comments proclaiming the twin tower's sublime beauty, insisting that they should have been replicated, but taller and stronger. Come on -- that's hurt pride speaking. And you don't build skyscrapers just to prove a point. The new 1WTC is infinitely better design. Stand near the base of it and look up. What you see is an immense triangle of glass pointing to heaven, framed by reverse triangles pointing to earth. It awes you, makes you feel the power of the city and the nation. I have no doubt that when complete, 1WTC will be hailed as an elegant and worthy successor.

Benjamin Carl Robinson
Saturday, June 9th, 2012 @ 11:48pm
Rating: One star. According to Edgar Caycee and Rev.David Wilkerson and The Nine Harbingers Sid Roth It's super natural with Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Caan after the tower goes up it comes down worse than the twin towers and New York will be destroyed. Edgar Caycee even said most of Japan would sink into the sea and for years people laughed..untill now when you do an online search you see Japan is actually now sinking into the sea slowly now but will it build momentum and start sinking every faster soon? Guess what when George Washington prayed in St.Paul's church at ground zero in NEW YORK city our FIRST nation's capitol that if America ever turned it's back on God that God woud be merciful...well the2nd tower crashed and sent a steel beam right through the sycamore tree that protected the church and it was the ONLY building standing at ground zero. Spooky? Eerie? Yes and there is so much more...Go to You Tube Sid Roth The Nine Harbingers and also see 180 the movie documentary on You Tube.

Dale T
Tuesday, May 15th, 2012 @ 6:27pm
I still think that rebuilding the towers would be a symbol of strength, and that America will never surrender against terrorism...

Manuel
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 @ 12:44am
America the beautiful, America the great, with ups and downs but always on top.

W. Hesse
Monday, May 7th, 2012 @ 4:52pm
Rating: Five stars. May it stand forever in memory of 9/11!!!

Morten Leerbech
Saturday, May 5th, 2012 @ 4:24am
Rating: Five stars. I think it´s a design which relates to the future, inevitable progress. Still, beautiful, and we will see a lot more of that - in the future ;-)

Johnathon Garza
Tuesday, May 1st, 2012 @ 12:02am
Rating: Five stars. Great looking structure, still surprised its still got 500 more ft. to tack on to it. Will be a great improvment in modern society today.

carl ambrose
Friday, April 13th, 2012 @ 3:26pm
Rating: Five stars. i have been following the construction of this magniciant building,over the months and years,and it has not dissapointed me.not only is the freedom tower a fantastic piece of arcitecture,its a shining beacon of strength to the world :)

Irucanyi
Thursday, April 12th, 2012 @ 1:51pm
This is a symbol of what USA means to the world! It does not matter what beliefs people around the world have, life must be respected!!!! Extremists, chauvinists and nationalist people are a hidden poison for the society and democracy.

Edward vonScheerschmidt
Monday, March 26th, 2012 @ 7:30pm
LIKE THE PHOENIX IT IS BEING REBUILT BY THE SPIRITS OF THE INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO DIED THERE.

John Valentinos
Sunday, March 25th, 2012 @ 2:34am
Rating: Five stars. It is a magnificent structure. God bless the USA!

Noel Andrews
Thursday, March 22nd, 2012 @ 1:02am
What the world needs is a monument to celebrate the end of Corporate Terrorisim. Then we can all rejoice.

Ryan
Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 @ 9:12am
Rating: One star. Terrible, hate the design. Should just have been the twin towers rebuilt. As can be seen, they have got a lot of support to be rebuilt.

Adam
Sunday, February 26th, 2012 @ 3:02pm
Rating: Two stars. It's nice, but what really boils my blood are the reflecting pools. What a way to keep a scab permanently open. The reflecting pools are a scar on NY and America. We need to rebuild the Twin Towers as they were. Of course there should be a memorial in them. But we need the Twin Towers.

peter norris
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 @ 4:12pm
Rating: Three stars. I will never forget that terrible day hours and mins those twin towers were destroyed i watched the awfull scenes on tv in the security office at work that morning those towers were awsome they were new york: the skyline will never be the same the evil terroists cowardly attacks will go down in history as the most murderous despicable act inflicted on defencles citizens in their work places this will must never be forgoten by rest of the world i hope that the people of new york and the rest of america will fight on and rebuild their shattered lives i also strongly beleive that the wishes of the majority of the people of new yorks wishes should have been granted and the rebuilding of at least both twin towers plus a third would have restored american pride and belief in this great country god bless america

John Rees
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 @ 10:39am
Rating: Five stars. America you have done yourself proud. This shows that american people can rise above hate and evil.Dont for get what happened that tragic day. Lets hope are youth can learn from our pass when they look up at the blue sky line of New York and see what man can achive.Good luck America. Hope to visit you soon.John Rees wigan ,England

Matthew G. Harris
Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 @ 9:55pm
Rating: Five stars. i use to live in an european country called Latvia and I had never knew anything about 911 because i was young and the i got adopted in 2010 and I moved to USA. When i saw Rising Rebuilding ground 0 i started to cry it was so sad and i feel sorry for the people that died that day. But there was no way fire fighters could save them.They were heroes and I pray for all those souls that passed away that day Lord Bless America.

Dakota Steffes
Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 @ 1:56pm
This is really is really cool, but is does not match the orignal. Instead, they should have had only two towers and they should be 1368 feet up for the first tower and 1362 feet for the second tower. All of the other towers compared to the freedom tower are much shorter. The only good thing about this tower is that it has the same heihgt as the first tower that stould and that it has the same base width. I think they should build this tower and the other ones, but they should have thought better about how the old ones stood. The Creater of this idea should have thought about how amazing the old world trade center is compared to how this one looks now.

C Hunt
Saturday, January 21st, 2012 @ 4:17am
Rating: Two stars. In my opinion; they should have built two towers as a replacement, if you really want to show pride and prowess then why not build three? I just think it is like a kick in the teeth, you had two now you only have one it's symbolism is revealing. As a building it is like any other modern structure but as a symbol of freedom and defiance it falls short IMO.

Robert
Friday, January 20th, 2012 @ 9:48am
Rating: Five stars. Let's put 12 hydrogen fuel cells in this thing and see how long it takes to blow up. the engineer's are just making the bad guy's job easier!

Terry Van
Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 @ 11:43am
Rating: Five stars. What a great structure. I hope Americans remember who their true freinds are .

Javier
Sunday, December 4th, 2011 @ 2:30pm
Rating: Four stars. i think its a beautiful tower, it will show how united we stand and that no one can pull us back. we are the United States of America. god bless this great nation and also the people who support this land from all over the world. i'm from Long Island, NY

Alex
Saturday, November 26th, 2011 @ 2:50pm
Rating: Five stars. For the moron who rated this building a 1, go..... yourself!!! It's obvious you don't know anything about what happened at ground zero, so you have no right to say garbage!!! This building isn't just an office building, it's a symbol of American pride and perserverence! God bless!

nazir
Monday, November 21st, 2011 @ 12:05pm
Rating: One star. Very sad... Burj ul Khaleefa -Dubai is far better. I really dont know what happened to usa and the american people. Petronas tower, The Thai pai tower and burj al kaleefa .. all have some thing different. This should be Two towers and there should be some distinct shape and answer to those bad fellows they destroyed twin tower

katie
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011 @ 8:43am
Rating: Five stars. god bless america and all the wonderful people in it

natalia
Saturday, November 5th, 2011 @ 12:20pm
Rating: Five stars. I am going to go see it when its done maybe 3 or 2 years i'm going to be 13 hooray.

David
Friday, October 28th, 2011 @ 4:55am
Rating: Five stars. This building looks amazing. But they could made it taller maybe 650 metres.

anonymous
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011 @ 3:36pm
Is this true, that both original towers had 10,000,000 square feet EACH, while this ONE tower will only have 2,600,000? ONE TOWER WITH BARELY MORE THAN 1/4 OF THE FLOOR SPACE OF ONE TOWER! TWO TOWERS WERE BOTH ALMOST 4 TIMES BIGGER THAN 1 TOWER! DO PEOPLE WANT TO BUILD IT SMALLER? THEY COULD AT LEAST MAKE THESE TOWERS AS BIG, IF NOT BIGGER, THAN THE ORIGINAL! WHY WOULD THEY MAKE ONE TOWER SMALLER THAN WHAT THEY COULD GET TWO OF?

anonymous
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011 @ 8:55am
Rating: Three stars. To Kary, (the one that said it is 1776 feet tall), the poll is going to be that tall. The building will only be 1368 (same height as the original). The problem is that there are only 105 floors, the building itself is smaller, and there is only one building.

anonymous
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011 @ 8:52am
Rating: Three stars. If they are going to build only one building, they could at least make it as big, if not bigger, than the original towers. If they are only building one tower, then it needs to make up for the fact that it's the only one. The second tower does not even come close. I'm not saying there is nothing good about these buildings, but I am saying that anything good about was much better in the Twin Towers. It maybe tall, but the TTs were taller. It maybe big, but the TTs were bigger. It might be a good building if this were the original, but the original world trade center told us we can do better than this.

James Fulkerson
Thursday, October 20th, 2011 @ 9:40pm
Rating: Five stars. I was not there but I am truley devastated about the 911 attack when I was 1 years old.I geuss the new one is pretty but we should build two.And I was happy when Bin Laden buttface died.I sure do miss the twin towers more than anyone else.

Kris d
Thursday, October 13th, 2011 @ 9:15am
Rating: Three stars. I remember where I was at what I was doing that particular day. I was working at Glasgow Airport when the news spread, did not beleive until I got home and saw the news. Dont get me wrong the Freedom Tower is a wonderfull piece of construction but I think two towers should have been built bigger, taller and stronger. America is a large and strong Nation and what way to symbolise this by building structures to prove this. God Bless America and to all those who suffered.

xavier
Tuesday, October 11th, 2011 @ 9:36pm
Rating: Five stars. New York should build the twin towers and fredom tower together

kaushik
Tuesday, October 11th, 2011 @ 11:43am
Rating: Five stars. This Freedom tower is again prove what The United States Of America is. It shows the victory of truth.I personally hatsoff all person who are associated with this bold and massive project.I want to visit once .

Hisham
Monday, October 10th, 2011 @ 11:55pm
Rating: Five stars. The Building looks outstanding, two thumbs up, as they say "live must go on"

Tony
Monday, October 10th, 2011 @ 3:42pm
Rating: Five stars. this building is going to be massive, the base is showing right now. It seems like 2 skyscrapers built in one. Its going to be beautiful, only sad thing is that it stands out as the cleanest most modern building. Making the rest of NYC seem outdated and dirty. Oh well.

Benn Chiriac
Friday, October 7th, 2011 @ 4:12pm
Rating: Five stars. I like the way how the workers are building the Freedom Tower because they're doing this to replace the WTC and they're adding jobs on that building and it make me really proud. The Freedom Tower look very beautiful to me because it looks like a silver building and it looks very good, even when I am far away from Manhatten. When I grow up, I might want to work in the Freedom Tower( If I decide to work in that tower).

Carl
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 @ 2:55pm
Rating: Four stars. Here is my full critique of the new One WTC in case you happen to care:PROS-Simple symmetrical design, not overwhelmingly complex or detailed-Antiprismatic form and shiny glass facade is reminiscent of a diamond-Its symmetrical, triangular form makes it seem strong, stable, and firm, just like how it was designed to be-Just like the Empire State Building, it blends well with the rest of the NY skyline (unlike the original twin towers) but stands out just enough to make it a recognizable icon of New York.-It has both feminine and masculine features: slim and elegant yet strong and solid-A modern design which brings the NY skyline into the 21st centuryCONS-Its sharp crystalline form makes it seem cold and cruel; traits that may be fitting for New York City but not as a representation of America as a whole-It looks too grim and bleak, and does not adequately send the message of hope, spirit, and resilience we want.-The sharp needle-like spire may be bold and iconic, but it looks too much like a deadly weapon-Stare at it too much and it almost looks ominous-It should have at least been slightly taller than the original twin towers; instead the roof height is exactly the same (spires don't technically count). The twin towers were 110 stories each, this new one should have been 115 storiesOf course it has some good and bad features, but my overall verdict is that I think it's a very good building that will fit well with New York. I'm certainly looking forward to its completion in early 2013 and will come visit it.

Malcolm
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011 @ 3:49pm
This is not as good as the original towers. This is not the worst of all the designs, but it is far from the best. The Twin Towers were famous for having two identical buildings. This will have just one. This building will also be less tall than either of the towers, have no windows on the first floors (another thing the TTs were famous for), have less floors, and have less floor area than one of the TTs. There will be a second tower, but it looks nothing like it. The first tower does not break any of the records of the original buildings. In fact, it does not even match them. The second tower doesn't even come close. The first tower's height is listed as much higher as it really is because they include the antenna. I'm serious. That's like holding up a pole and saying you're 10 feet tall. The second one also is shorter than it sounds because of the slanted roof, which makes it only as tall in one area. Obviously, it has no observation deck. In fact, it could very well be one of the other smaller buildings. Also, there will only be 6 buildings, just 1 2 3 4 5 and 7 (can't they count?), as 6 has not been confirmed but may be built later. These "buildings" have nothing too amazing about them, especially considering that they are built to "replace" the World Famous World Trade Center, first and second tallest buildings when they were built, second and third after the building of the Willis Tower (formerly and better called the Sears Tower). This will also have security to get in, and will not have any of the things on those boxy buildings with no personality that we didn't know how much we loved until they were gone. Now, I'm not for rebuilding the towers as they were. We've already had those and we're not putting them back as if nothing happened. But we could have done much better than this. We should have rebuilt it differently, but not dropping all the things that the TTs were famous for. They should have made two towers with different designs, and were taller (not shorter), bigger (not smaller) had the observation deck, sky lobby, restaurants, 99 elevators, mall, tons of windows, and all the other things that we loved about the original towers. I was hoping they would build towers that were taller, bigger, and better in every way, but these are worse. This is an insult to the people who died there. If this is the "replacement" "tower" for the World Trade Center, then we are better off without anything. At least there would be room for us to build one someday in the future, like when the task is in more competent hands. These are nothing like the original buildings. There is nothing they have that the TTs didn't, in fact, there are things that the TTs have that this doesn't. Why can't they build something better than this?

bob
Sunday, September 18th, 2011 @ 9:30am
it looks really cool but dont you think that one might be bombed or somehow another plane will be drove into it and 9/11 will happen agian now do we want that NO

William Moka
Friday, September 16th, 2011 @ 6:55pm
Rating: Five stars. I Agree with Rajendra Chandel an exact replica of the twin towers would have been nice. And a tribute to those who lost there lives to the 9/11 attack. the sad thing is I didn't even know that the buildings exsisted until the day of the attack! no one will ever forget that day god bless America, God bless New Zealand, And God bless the World

conor murray
Tuesday, September 13th, 2011 @ 2:52pm
Rating: Five stars. Amazing. Simply amazing. For the people that want it to be two towers, I completely get that, but at least one tower is better than none. It is to honor the people who died fighting for us.Again, it's amazing.

rob
Tuesday, September 13th, 2011 @ 6:56am
Rating: Five stars. well done america a tower of strength that will help us all to remember the terrible events from 9/11 god bless all the nations which lost so many innocent people who on that fateful day just woke to go to work not knowing the events which would unfold my heart goes out to all the people involved also my thoughts go out to all the emergency crews and families who lost loved ones,we shall never give in to terror and the u.s.a and great britain will grow stronger from this,also my thoughts go out to all serving members of the armed forces overseas who are striving to protect our freedom godbless you all.

Steve From Queens
Monday, September 12th, 2011 @ 6:25pm
Rating: One star. I really didn't care what design they used for the new buildings, as long as their were two twin buildings. This design does not celebrate what was the most beautiful skyline in the world.

Robert Zimmer
Monday, September 12th, 2011 @ 12:25pm
Rating: Five stars. As I watched the events of 9/11 time after time, one thing passed thru my mind. They had no water to put out the fire. I hope this building has multiple sources of water for an internal fire department to use. The original trade center could have survived with a fire eradication system in place. this new building will be a target, lets be prepaired.

Sheila Valenti
Monday, September 12th, 2011 @ 11:38am
This tower is an amazing structure. i just hope that it will stand forever.God bless you all for the undying optimism.

Sean
Monday, September 12th, 2011 @ 12:45am
Rating: Five stars. Apologies for the IMBECILE "Les" whose comments in no way reflect opinion in my country. Excellent concept and it will a beautiful building. Hey Les, why don't you bugger off to the middle East you gen y freak.

DEVIL DOG (Marines) Native N.Y.
Sunday, September 11th, 2011 @ 9:54pm
Rating: Five stars. Its amazing how every one all over the world is showing support and cares.Awesome...I use to go downtown to wall street throughout my childhood and as an adult. I remember that when it was time to go Home, I would look for the "Twin Towers"to guide me back to the station and take the "A" train back up to Washington Heights. The Towers Guided me Home. As a Lighthouse guides Ships Home.God Bless The World...

WFRCIII
Sunday, September 11th, 2011 @ 8:51pm
Rating: Five stars. This is a great building. It's a great new symbol for the US and New York City. Don't get me wrong I love the Twin Towers, but building those towers all over again would be offensive to the victims of the September 11 attacks. It would be offensive because, the Twin Towers can come back, but the victims of the attacks can't. Also, it would be too creepy to see the towers again, it's like seeing a ghost. I also like the memorial, two footprints of the great towers that once stood. I can't wait to see the completed towers!

Ronen
Sunday, September 11th, 2011 @ 8:17pm
Rating: Three stars. I think the new building is very nice, but NYC is not an architecturally modernized city. The buildings should have been rebuilt the exact same way as before, maybe stronger and engineered more efficiently to withstand disaster. It might have been harder to cope with being that it'll open so many memories but still would show that the City still looks the same. This new building will show that our SCAR is PERMANENT and we are trying to re-build ourselves. Matter of Opinion but many people have agreed with this idea.GOD BLESS US

Gaynor Taylor
Sunday, September 11th, 2011 @ 7:22pm
Rating: Five stars. I was watching Stephen Spielbergs the rising. What a beautiful building, I must admit all the architecture is beautiful, but most of all I loved the memorial that has been built. what a wonderful way to show defiance & that we will not lay down & die. So many souls were lost but the whole world will remember them. My heart goes out to their loved ones & I hope that the monument at least will give them some closure. God bless all who have fallen, may that rest in peace.

New York City Lover
Sunday, September 11th, 2011 @ 5:17pm
Rating: Five stars. I think its great how were making a new one to think of the memories of the world trade center. The building looks like it will be popular and great! I love the design it is amazing as can be! God Bless America! Freedom Will Always be here with us! God bless those who lost there loved ones.

Andrew
Sunday, September 11th, 2011 @ 5:12pm
Rating: Five stars. I was in 1st Grade when I saw the twin towers fall right before my eyes, praying to God my uncle was alright. He wasn't. I continued to grow up in a nation at war because of that one day, and I personally believe that this Freedom Tower will commemorate all the souls that died that day. After this tower is built, we must continue to move forward and continue to grow. God bless America.

Jen From Brooklyn Ny
Sunday, September 11th, 2011 @ 5:00pm
Rating: One star. The new design is hideous and thank god they got rid of the name "Freedom Tower" The NYC skyline will never be the same... This building could have been put anywhere there's nothing that screams character to me... all it says is modern, boring and expensive and don't get started on the memorial... 2 massive holes with water running through them i mean i expected something more than a memorial park with just trees. Donald Trump's original idea to build the Twin Towers bigger and better with 111 floors should have happened except with with a more modern exterior but same rectangular shape and position... and the memorial bigger and not something in the ground but something above and not so empty looking.

olakanye T.
Sunday, September 11th, 2011 @ 3:32pm
Rating: Four stars. In my own view, the attacked tower could not be replaced ever, if not, i would have loved to be seing it. Though it good we have another one but can not compared with. God bless America. New York Cityyyyyyy

Penny
Sunday, September 11th, 2011 @ 2:57pm
I don't know why we have to rebuild a tower. I personally think the memorial building and reflecting pools are just what we need. They are the more perfect way to remember those who lost their lives and keep their memories alive that way. The site should be a place of solemnity. Instead we're spending ridiculous amounts of money on another target. Buildings do not define our nation, folks. Our strength and fortitude to forge on in the face of any challenge...that's what makes America what it is. Building another tower reflects "IMAGE" not strength and fortitude. Is this Hollywood?Hell no!! Wouldn't the money be better served helping our country's national debt or some other more constructive project??? God bless all who died and every life that was affected (including my own), but I find this project appalling.

Alexander
Sunday, September 11th, 2011 @ 2:22pm
Les, you have no idea what you are talking about. Your not even from here. Your comment to me seemed like you were putting America down we are getting back up this to me shows that you cant keep AMERICA down!! And by the way Less America is still as great as we were before!

nivas
Sunday, September 11th, 2011 @ 1:36pm
Rating: Three stars. we should have constructed the towers like how it looked all those years as a land mark... by constructing them into original form, we can say to all those terrorist groups that freedom can never be demolished.

Alison A
Sunday, September 11th, 2011 @ 10:13am
Rating: Three stars. All those of you saying it should be bigger and better, let's show the world, yadda yadda yadda, that's partly the attitude that makes enemies of some. I think it's a good tribute to those that died and those that survived, those who lost and those to remember, although an even more fitting one would have been no skyscraper, no replacement. They cannot be replaced. A place of contemplation, a memorial, a park, a place of beauty to remember the tragedy and welcome the future.

Todd Geist
Sunday, September 11th, 2011 @ 9:19am
Rating: Five stars. As a member of glaziers local 252 district council 21 I would like say these union brothers are doing a awesome job on this awesome building and I just wish I could be a part of it. Keep up the good work guys in honor of all these innocent victims who lost there life 10 years ago today.

Siobhan Wilkinson
Sunday, September 11th, 2011 @ 8:21am
I was only 5 years old when this happened so didn't understand what was going on. Now it is the 10th Anninversary of these horrific attacks my thoughts are with everyone affected.

Michael A
Sunday, September 11th, 2011 @ 7:50am
Rating: Five stars. I am watching the Memorial on abc, and this will most definitely be one to be remembered. The new tower will always be reflecting day and night. what an awesome idea.Man just keeps impressing me more and more and more. I am so proud of you America, and the minds who thought of such an creation. Thank you

graeme alan johnson
Saturday, September 10th, 2011 @ 11:18pm
Rating: Five stars. you rise with <freedom> tower,your heart rises and you rise for the people that have gone,you rise because you are a better person.god save america god look after those that died and god save the beautiful things that wont break us.love to everybody.graeme from sydney australia.my love to everybody that day in new york.a trillion thoughts and kisses.graeme

Caroline Sewell
Saturday, September 10th, 2011 @ 2:41pm
Rating: Five stars. I really like the new tower and think the name is really good too. My husband and I always wanted to visit the twin towers and are saving now to come and pay our respects. My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones and the heroes who tried so hard to rescue all the victims.

Jordan
Saturday, September 10th, 2011 @ 1:29pm
Rating: Four stars. Why even build a "One world trade center"?It's just another target for the people who want to come back and ruin America.

Mark
Friday, September 9th, 2011 @ 1:27pm
I really did not like the new design of the Freedom Tower. I wanted to see our Twin Towers back. The world is differant now and I have had more time to think about the design of the Freedom Tower and it stands for a newer and more powerful nation. That we will not give in but stand stronger and taller for our freedoms. In your face. God Bless America. Mark

Douglas
Friday, September 9th, 2011 @ 12:03pm
Rating: Five stars. when i hear comments that this city looks like other cities bla bla bla i think to myself you never lived long enough in other country to let your balls drop to make such adolescent comments...get real world experience living in a 3rd or 4th world country and then realize it's not "just another city" its a city in the heart of a great nation.

Cory Green
Friday, September 9th, 2011 @ 10:41am
Rating: Five stars. This Tower will be a great tribute to all the souls lost in the collapse of the WTC and all those lost since.

James Ball
Friday, September 9th, 2011 @ 5:46am
Rating: Four stars. Impressive! Well done New York on rebuilding. Had no idea that the construction had reached so high already until I read thru some of the items on the internet. Will always remember that day, coming home from work and spending hours glued to the TV screen. I never tire of watching re-runs and re-living those terrible minutes before the end. Hope to see it one day

Kathy Hurn
Friday, September 9th, 2011 @ 4:26am
Our thoughts are with all the family’s that lost loved ones on this the 10th anniversary, also with the people who witnessed the horrific scene on that very sad day, I would be proud to be an American, brave forgiving strong people.

Shreya Aybar
Thursday, September 8th, 2011 @ 11:14pm
Rating: Five stars. Wow is very interesting its shame that all of the time that i went to visit my sister in New Jersey i never got the chance to visit the Twin Towers but know nothing its going to stop me to visit The Tower of freedom it looks awsom its very nice,God Bless America and God Bless for all the familys who lost their loved ones that day,this new building will be a symbol of freedom a symbol for a new beginning.Thank you.

Lou Rozon
Thursday, September 8th, 2011 @ 5:45pm
Rating: Five stars. They may not be the same as the original tower,but then again neither are we,or New York City.I feel these new buildings and memorial gardens are a just and fitting tribute to those who lost their lives on that day and those who have givien the ultimate measure in the wars that followed that day.Well done....GOD BLESS FREEDOM EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

may
Thursday, September 8th, 2011 @ 2:57pm
Rating: Two stars. They made NYC look like an asian city. Why not? Everything is built in asia and even this building's design shows that. Too me a monument to Asia. The Old towers were spectacular inside and out, even observation deck. I can close my eyes and see my self looking through those massive windows and the little seats.

Kendall Morgan-Chase
Thursday, September 8th, 2011 @ 3:33am
Rating: Five stars. I was once a guest in your wondeful City, State & Nation. I've stood on the Observation Deck, marvelled at the view, the feat of engineering achievement of the WTC. I find it so hard to begin to comprehend something so real, something so strong, a place I once stood no longer exists. Profoundly though, I can't begin to empathise the feelings, equate into real consciousable terms the vastly incredible loss that mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters and their children have suffered with the loss of their loved ones. Freedom Tower is impressive as it is beautiful. However, a proud nation, dedicated to peace, will always remain a beacon for those striving to strike fear into peace-loving god-fearing people. Now work is underway, I hope that people will reflect upon the decision made, and aceept it as a fitting memorial for all those you have lost. God Bless you all.

Annie Charlton
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011 @ 3:29pm
Rating: Five stars. I think the new structure looks like it will be a beautiful site to see, No one will ever ever forget the twin towers and what happend that awful day on sep 11th. I cry even now when I see footage of all the innocents lost. God Bless all those affected by sep 11th and not forgetting July 7th victims in uk either. THE TERROISTS WILL NEVER WIN. I would love to come and visit New York one day and see this building for myself. USA AND UK STAND UNITED TOGETHER ALWAYS. X

Amadi P.O.
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011 @ 11:01am
Rating: Five stars. Two reasons to replace the towers: 1 history shows that these people would always erect a mosque at their point of conquest. This will be an exception because these colors don’t run! 2 a man remains defeated if he makes no effort to get back on his feet. Replacing the two destroyed WTC is the only way to pay homage to our fighting men and women in uniform and reclaim what these marauding hordes took from us on Sept 11, 2001.

Michael Green
Tuesday, September 6th, 2011 @ 1:48am
Rating: Five stars. Magnificent ,god bless every one lost on 9/11 and all involved in the new building.

mauricio
Monday, September 5th, 2011 @ 6:01pm
I trully believe that the grounds should had kept with a memorial, many of ours loved ones died there, threfore it nothing should be built there once again and unstead greed in to teh realestate developers takes place over respect to the dead. Not a cool decision. Let people REST IN PEACE!

Vladek
Monday, September 5th, 2011 @ 12:23pm
I am Ukrainian. I am just 60. I’ve never crossed the border of my country, but I love New-York during all my life long, and at the coming very sad anniversary of the tragedy of New-York I decide to write this response. I remember that terrible picture. A crowd stood at a long distance. All they in horror were watching at the falling buildings. They could do nothing for those suffering people into the buildings. Just stand and watch, just cry and pray. All it looked like crying women before dying Christ on the Cross. I was deeply touched with this. Thanks to God that Jesus Christ was resurrected from the death and appeared with greatest glory, greatest power and strength for our believing and your salvation, but unfortunately concerning the fallen buildings we can watch only at the two painful open graves of them. I ask a question to America: “is it more difficult task for America now to rebuild them, than it was in 1931 when was build ‘Empire State Building’?!... By the by, at the beginning that tower considered to be unviable, and we know that with time it turned to be the greatest symbol of America for many years, and unfortunately that, that old symbol still remains to be the very symbol of America till now!!! No doubt, that the “Freedom Tower” hardly is able to change this situation, because many counties today have such kind of buildings, besides it is not too much correct thing to put such a building (with the honor name: “Freedom Tower” and with the restaurant on the top!?) to the place of biggest sorrow of New-York(better to say, of all America). Only the rebuild latest symbol(which was the twins) is able to change that shameful situation of that “Pearl Harbor-2.” Obviously, that the spire of the new twins must be over than 2001feet, which means the pass of the sad date for new future America. I believe that with God’s help America will do it. GOD BLESS AMERICA !!!Sincerely yours, Vladek Baran. PS, sorry for my English.

Les
Sunday, September 4th, 2011 @ 10:44pm
Rating: One star. I dont like the building it does not inspire me at all at least they should have built the last 10 floors as 2 separate towers on top of the main building to look like 2 fingers sticking up to say to the world up you buddy were Back in stead of that wimpy pole at the top to pretend that the building is higher it just sends out a message to the world that America is no longer as strong as it was Went to the Moon but will never be able to do it again.The world has caught up and is passing America.

joe
Saturday, September 3rd, 2011 @ 8:54pm
Rating: Four stars. well done America the wtc1 and wtc2 will be missed well done to new york fire department (NYFD), the New York Police Deaprtment(NYPD) and the civilians

Rick Moore
Saturday, September 3rd, 2011 @ 4:44pm
If not building twin towers - How about a couple of antennas at the top that symbolize the old twin towers?

Mark Heinicke
Saturday, September 3rd, 2011 @ 10:31am
Rating: Four stars. I am thrilled by the design of this building, awed by its engineering, and astounded by the speed and smoothness with which it is being built. However, I wonder if this symbol of defiance is really the right statement to be making to the rest of the world. I'm thinking something more suggestive of interdependence and cooperation (a dome?) might have been more appropriate to the 21st Century.

John Bartlett
Sunday, August 28th, 2011 @ 2:43am
Rating: Five stars. I was lucky enough,to see the Twin Towers,a year before it fell,can't wait to get back,to NYC,in 2014,to see the new 'Freedom Tower"

CaddyMn
Sunday, August 28th, 2011 @ 12:47am
Rating: Three stars. The new building will be the same height as the original building - 1,368 Feet. Then a 408-Foot Transmitting Antenna will be stuck on top of it to bring the total height up to the much-advertised 1,776 feet. So basically we are replacing two towers with one. Wow. How unimpressive. How mediocre. How uninspired. How totally American (Meaning Ball-Less). I am so disgusted right now I could vomit.

Reinier de Weerdt
Saturday, August 27th, 2011 @ 3:02pm
Rating: Five stars. From great pain great strength can come. Americans are known for there undying optimism. This building symbolizes both strength and optimism.

chuck smith
Friday, August 26th, 2011 @ 7:29pm
as a retired union ironworker ,from norfolk,va. .i have never been so proud of my country or my union brothers god bless americia

Dzevad
Friday, August 26th, 2011 @ 11:32am
Rating: Five stars. Its gonna be rally nice when its complete , But bad memory still remains bad

john regrut sr
Thursday, August 25th, 2011 @ 11:32pm
Rating: Five stars. greetings and salutations to the workers that constructed this marvel. my heart still goes out to all who lost their lives on 911 and their families. god bless this monument and all of America.

Valerie Strawmier
Thursday, August 25th, 2011 @ 8:38pm
Rating: Five stars. This is beautiful and awesome-it brings tears to my eyes and I love who we are as a country! Long live the strong USA and may we always rise again taller when others try to knock us down!

Kirsten
Thursday, August 25th, 2011 @ 8:19pm
Rating: Five stars. Thank you to all the countries across the world that support the USA. World unity is the ultimate goal of the new Freedom Tower. God bless the people of our planet.

Kary
Thursday, August 25th, 2011 @ 7:54pm
Rating: Four stars. The Freedom Tower IS taller than either of the twin towers. Freedom tower will be 1,776 feet tall with a supposed 82 floors. One of the Twin Towers was 1,368 foot tall the other was 1,362 foot tall. For anyone that doesn't know or has not thought about it.... the US gained independence from Britain in 1776. The Freedom tower is going to be 1,776 feet tall.

James Mack
Thursday, August 25th, 2011 @ 7:52pm
Rating: Five stars. This is the reason we are the Greatest Nation in the world, and always will be. It's what we STAND for to the world that truly makes us great. Long live the ideology that makes us the land of the free, and GOD Bless America..

eric
Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 @ 10:04pm
Please let this building be taller is not anything else ,just please please please do that ,I've been to the window of the world ,we need that agin ,if your not gonna give us 2 towers atleast make the freedom tower taller ,gosh please.

Richard
Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 @ 4:35pm
Having been on top of the WTC building, I felt tall and proud to be an American. But to put of in the position to act like we are afraid, this should not be. We should have put the WTC back just the way it was to let us know that this country cares about its simble of a powerful nation. I don't think americans are going to visit the site like it use to be under that statement!

Anthony M.
Monday, August 22nd, 2011 @ 8:12pm
Rating: Five stars. The twin towers were unique. An outter steel facade made for different looks throughout the day. Sometimes appearing light brownish, other times bright silver, and dusk made for a unique, shiny, almost glass like reflection of their southern facades when viewed from the SE. This died along with countless souls on that day. Im glad they chose to abandon the tapering tower, and make the vertical sides of freedom tower more even while shooting upwards. The only thing I think would make it better at this point is a twin to accompany it. Abandon a couple of the other towers planned, and build a second identical tower in their place. Thats really all we can ask at this point. Bless all the souls lost in september 2001, and bless all of you living in other countrys supporting us here in America. Peace And Goodwill to you all. Thank you so very much. Hope for a brighter world in the years to come.

Tone -Loc
Friday, August 19th, 2011 @ 2:46pm
Rating: Five stars. I'm with Ken like it or not , we need to remember and go forward.Praise the Lord

Kayla
Friday, August 19th, 2011 @ 2:16pm
Rating: Four stars. the only reason i'm giving not giving this a five star,is because of the height. i do wish it was taller but it is a very neat building. i travel to New York a lot so i be visiting that tower a lot. i always loved the twin towers.and 9/11 has always made a huge impact on me, even though i live in the southeast.

Rajendra Chandel
Wednesday, August 17th, 2011 @ 5:00am
Rating: One star. This is an ugly substitute for WTC..and actually blotting the prestigious pace like is battery park.

Rajendra Chandel
Wednesday, August 17th, 2011 @ 4:58am
Rating: One star. An exact replica of the twin tower would have been a fitting reply to those who destoyed it.Those were the most beautiful towers ever bulit by men.

Sarita Otero
Saturday, August 13th, 2011 @ 6:27pm
I don't think it would be a good idea to build the very same twin towers. The towers died along with thousands of innocent victims on 911 and that is where it should end. Rebuilding them would cause more pain to the families seeing that the towers can be rebuilt but their families cannot come back to life. I honestly think they did a great job in building a new and different building and creating a memorial alongside where familes and people from all over the world can come and pay their respects.

Ken Mallon
Saturday, August 13th, 2011 @ 11:53am
Rating: Five stars. Like it or not, modern architecture, like modern art is a relection of ourselves. It's meant to inspire dialog,controversy and emotion. I'd say we have a winner!

Seldamat
Saturday, August 13th, 2011 @ 10:00am
Considering leasing office space at the new WTC but how do I know I won't become a casualty in a renewed mid millenial NWO campaign?

aries
Thursday, August 11th, 2011 @ 10:54am
Rating: Four stars. " If America couldn't make it better nor taller than the old Twin Tower, Then how sad it is to hear by their enemy (if there is an enemy?, . who trully destroyed it!?.) mocking that America can't get recovered by their past.. i guess "if you will stand by your fall.. make it stood much more better than before"

kevin orlik
Monday, July 25th, 2011 @ 10:47am
HONOR THE PAST, BUT LOOK TO THE FUTURE. AMERICA SHOWS ITS FORTITUDE IN BUILDING THE FREEDOM TOWER. THAT IS PART OF AMERICA'S CREED.

descalcificador de agua
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011 @ 1:45am
i think the freedom tower is absoulutly incredible. im going up that observation deck as soon as its built even though i live here. regards from anticalcareoelectronico.com

Duppie
Thursday, July 7th, 2011 @ 1:01am
Thanks for putting on my name but You got the wrong flag next to My name I am from South Africa

Jake
Tuesday, June 28th, 2011 @ 11:41am
Rating: Three stars. When I look at the rendering of this building against the backdrop of NYC, you know what I see? I see every other large city in the world. It looks just like some no-name city in East Asia. It sucks. Of course the twin towers should not be rebuilt exactly like they were, that would be stupid. But we should've made two towers. Unfortunately, New York will no longer have a unique skyline and I'm disappointed that I never got a chance to see the "real" New York in person. Yay for mediocrity!For those that like this building: I think you are all sheep who would like just about anything that looked "modern" as long as figures of authority were telling you to like it. Just admit it, now New York looks no different from Hong Kong. Go look up Hong Kong's skyline and you'll see what I mean. Ugly or not, at least people knew NYC's skyline when they saw it. No longer. And that is sad. We are losing this battle.

jordan
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011 @ 4:38pm
Rating: Five stars. why are they even building the freedom tower,over 20 million people want twin towers 2 to be rebuilt on ground zero and only 700 people want freedom tower on ground zero.GO TWIN TOWERS 2!!!!

Duppie
Monday, June 13th, 2011 @ 1:30am
Rating: Five stars. I love the building it just show's America always stand up and never lay down Good luck and may GOD bless You.

ryan
Wednesday, June 1st, 2011 @ 12:48pm
Rating: Three stars. I really like the freedom tower

S.Jones
Tuesday, May 31st, 2011 @ 6:53am
Rating: Five stars. I think that this building is going to be a great addition to new york. All the people that have negative comments I feel bad for you. Rebuilding twin towers again would be a horrible reminder to those who lost loved ones. Building this freedom tower is a symbol of how strong america is and how we can come together. I dont think the glass part is the best idea but i love the idea of reflecting light. Those who say that it should be taller or whatever else i think your stupid lets not forget that even though Osama is dead the battle between the two is not over. Why make the new tower more of a target. I think its going to be fine the way it is. The fact that there is going to be a courtyard with trees and memorials for the ones lost make it a great place for loved ones to pay their respects. If you have a problem with the design let me see you come up with something better!!!

Marc the Plumber
Friday, May 27th, 2011 @ 9:53pm
Rating: Five stars. The hight of Tower 1 is what you must keep in mind 1776'. "Freedom!"is what it stands for. You also have to take in the rest of the site. The memorial pools are in the exact foot prints of the Twin Towers 200' x 200' with a beautiful park over 150 trees including a tree that was rescued from 9-11-01 on the site. All the buildings together will make the WTC site something to admire for generations to come.

rob
Thursday, May 26th, 2011 @ 1:40am
Rating: Two stars. I also feel very disappointed with this new design of the Freedom Tower. I remember traveling to New York as a child and seeing the Twin Towers soar above all other buildings. I would have liked to see the 2 towers rebuilt and even a little taller. They stood for America

Marc the Plumber
Saturday, May 21st, 2011 @ 7:50pm
Rating: Five stars. As a construction worker at Tower 1 I am proud and lucky to be part of history in the making. During lunch I get to meet people from all over the country and the world. Meeting, taking pictures, and giving directions to all the visitors of my city is the best. Keep on comming down to get a look at what's going on we grow taller every day. Maybe you'll see me by the PATH train at lunch time.

Ryan
Wednesday, May 18th, 2011 @ 5:17pm
Rating: Three stars. I like the idea, but i think the tower should be much larger to symbolize America's strength even through the rough times we are facing right now. New York used to have the largest buildings in the world, we should regain that title...

adrian
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011 @ 8:42pm
Rating: Five stars. This is the first time I've actually seen renderings, and in and of itself it's not bad...typical American mediocre architecture. However, the old WTC towers were the UGLIEST utilitarian, 1970-style monstrosities on the planet, ruining the NY skyline.I mourn those who were lost and hurt and the damage the attack did to our democracy, but thank God those horrible boxes are gone.

Larry Hendrick
Monday, May 16th, 2011 @ 10:52pm
Rating: Five stars. I think the new building is great for the city of New York ,the twin towers will only leave hurting memories ,time to move on to the future.

Marvin
Sunday, May 15th, 2011 @ 4:23am
Rating: Five stars. This is a massive and magnificent looking tower. If you saw it in person, you would agree. I think it's going to be a beautiful addition to the city, especially when it lights up at night. And, might I add, it's better not to be preoccupied with trivial details like floor number or triangular vs rectangular shapes. The tower has its own identity and it doesn't need a high floor count to prove its worth. That should symbolize that America doesn't need to flaunt because we know we're a great country no matter what terrorists think.

John
Friday, May 13th, 2011 @ 3:25am
Rating: Five stars. A pheonix from the ashes rises - Well done America !

John
Thursday, May 12th, 2011 @ 11:11am
Rating: Five stars. A pheonix from the ashes rises - Well done America !

awcmon
Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 @ 9:01am
Ad-nauseam:The U.S.A.'s 'need' to rebuild something grander than the destroyed Twin Towers (a Tower of Babel comes to mind) on the very same spot, where thousands died at the hands of fundamentalist Islamic terrorists, rather than a more actual National Memorial speaks volumes of the U.S. and its' present abysmal, narcissistic - moral decrepitude, unconscionable literal worship of Kapitalism and utterly mindless greed.

alex
Thursday, May 5th, 2011 @ 10:27am
Rating: Five stars. Yall need to calm down. Building another set of twin towers is a mistake. A pair of towers exactly as they were would be a huge target for future terrorist attacks. The original towers' design was already a terrible safety hazard. Not enough elevators and narrow stairwells contributed to no small amount of deaths in the 9/11 attacks. The single memorial tower with its massive block base is far safer, especially given its location nestled between neighboring skyscrapers. It's tapered design will likely prevent collapse if attacked. Architecturally, a triangle is far stronger than a square. Aesthetic design is not their real concern. Also, I personally find that a tower of exactly 1776 feet is far more commemorative of american ideals than having the worlds largest tower. In 100 years someone will have built a taller tower than the new skyscraber in the arab emirates, thus rendering the original trade towers entirely obsolete in terms of height.

unknown disgrace
Thursday, May 5th, 2011 @ 3:13am
5th may 2011:freedom tower;freedom has no comfort;freedom is never free;operation enduring freedom.

shanea
Wednesday, May 4th, 2011 @ 4:42pm
Rating: One star. they should not build another one the twin towers have great memories i wanta vote

Blaine Hart
Wednesday, May 4th, 2011 @ 10:51am
Rating: One star. Im a firefighter for the city of Savannah Ga; but i was born in Patterson NJ. I come from five generations of fire fighters, some of whom are with the city New York. We also lost two loved ones in the line of duty there, I would love to see the twin towers build as they once were but, i also relize it be more of a sad reminder of those who died there than a celebration over our enemies. The renderings of the new builds are awesome and tastefull. Its time we move toward the future and also remember our losses at the same time. God Bless America and our troops.

Daniel
Monday, May 2nd, 2011 @ 9:34pm
Rating: Four stars. Because this isn't going to be a target for terrorists at all... Particularly now Osama Bin Laden is dead. Great way to stir up extremists...

Taahliah
Tuesday, April 12th, 2011 @ 9:09pm
Rating: Five stars. From Dust we Came and to Dust we shall return. We are all alone and all alone together, as one. What difference does the opinion of what someone thinks of the new WTC - It will be what it is - the memory of those lost in the tragedy of 9/11 are sought to be remembered, not the continued sorrow of what has gone - Remember, celebrate life and live what you have now. In 100 years this building will be considered OLD and oter buildings may tower far above it - or this earth could be gone, enjoy the now. It's beautiful and so is life.

uchenna
Saturday, April 9th, 2011 @ 3:36pm
Rating: Five stars. may GOD COUNTINUE BLESSING AMERICA,WE ARE PROUD OF U,DEVIL HAS NO POWER OVER U,USA IS A BLESSED CUNTRY KEEP IT UP WE STAND BY U.

Bryon Halsey
Friday, April 8th, 2011 @ 1:01pm
Rating: One star. If I could have rated this completely unimaginative design lower I would have. A 4 year old with a box of legos could have done better. SOM should be embarrassed, and the city of New York should have demanded better. It is a beacon of mediocrity... a sad realization of what our nation has become.

James Leduc
Tuesday, April 5th, 2011 @ 11:51am
Rating: One star. This building is a trophy for the terrorists. Don't let the terrorists alter our skyline. Rebuild new twin towers. This will start the healing process for America. This building what they are doing is a giant middle finger to Americans. Over 90% of New Yorkers want their towers back. Politicans using 9/11 as a renovation to build what they want and ignoring the voice of the American people. Rebuild the twin towers stronger, taller.

montu
Tuesday, April 5th, 2011 @ 10:33am
Rating: Five stars. the new world trade center will be more beautiful and amazine as compare to old world trade center but it's hight will be low from old wtc but i really love americans

Christopher J. Wilmot
Sunday, April 3rd, 2011 @ 10:47am
Rating: One star. This alleged replacement of the former Twin Towers is typical of the gutless, non-creative, and inept NYC leadership, that has caused this project to run years behind scheduled completion, and will deliver to us an architectural design by committee, at its worst. What a shame!

Steve
Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 @ 6:45pm
Rating: One star. This building SCREAMS I surrender to the terroist!!! 82 stories ?? Come on what a total disgrace , thank for making the rest of the world think we are WEAK !!! HORRIBLE choice as a replacement, 1 chance to do this right and they totally blew it !!!

Tyler
Thursday, March 31st, 2011 @ 6:23pm
Rating: Four stars. This Building is awesome but they should make it another 110 stories taller than the original World Trade Centers and have the antenna twice as high to but besides that it is looking good and. May God Bless The United States of America.

Glenn Smith
Wednesday, March 30th, 2011 @ 1:54am
Rating: Five stars. This is to all the idiots who took the time to rant about Israel and the terrorists. Israel didn't bring down the towers you morons. Those arab morons did by flying those planes into them! If you don't like it here in the U.S. - leave! We don't need you here nor want you here!This building is quite an awesome sight! It says "We stand tall and strong and we believe in our freedom!" A shining symbol of America! Ignore the naysayers and downers. We could never have satisfied everyone with any design. The building is a strong symbol and it points to heaven where all the souls of those lost in this tragedy are now resting (except the terrorists). It says we stand strong and we will never forget! It is a bold strong statement.

dan
Tuesday, March 29th, 2011 @ 4:48am
I believe that the twin towers should be rebuilt "bigger" to show who we are and what we stand for!!!

Boy Big
Saturday, March 26th, 2011 @ 3:21pm
Rating: One star. I just visited the site and was very disappointed with the plan and LACK of symbolism associated with only one tower. How does this tell the world that we rebuild better and stronger after the attacks? Add more floors, put up two of them, and add gun turrets if necessary but please, not this wimpy little plan. Let's stop and make adjustments now!

stacy
Thursday, March 24th, 2011 @ 9:59am
Rating: Five stars. I think it's a good idea.If you think about it, when the 2 fell,they put 1 back,to me it feels like,okay it's like having 2 people and they are brought together as 1.

Rick
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 @ 10:25am
Rating: One star. This "SINGLE" tower design doesn't compare to the original twin towers. C'mon, really? It has 3,000,000 "LESS" square feet than the original. The roof height is the same as the original 1WTC's, albeit less floors, 105 floors vs the original's 110 floors. The needle spike thingy doesn't make up for it's lack of totality. It doesn't appear to belong in NYC's skyline either. It is rather dull and uninspiring.Sorry, I'm disappointed. I thought the rebuilding of the WTC was supposed to symbolize our strength and resolve as a nation? We can't even call this building the Freedom Tower because it might offend someone. Ah, but I digress. Maybe there are financial reasons? Is it financial? It has been reported that the total cost will be 4 billion dollars. That's 2 billion over the original budget. You couldn't squeeze an extra tower out of that? If it was a question of finances, maybe we shouldn't have built it in the first place? Symbolically, though, it represents a neutered America.

bobby suflea
Monday, March 21st, 2011 @ 7:56am
whaaaaaaaaaaaat that is awsome we're getting the tallest building in america today

Darlene
Sunday, March 20th, 2011 @ 9:51am
Rating: Five stars. Hello Everyone,I think the building is awesome. WE WILL NEVER FORGET 9-11-01.But those bastards will never take us down. We stand united. They might have knocked us down to our knees, but they will never take our love away from our Nation. THE BUILDING SHOWS OUR STRENGTH, WE WILL PREVAIL, WE WILL RISE STRONGER AND BETTER!!-Darlene...

Larry
Saturday, March 19th, 2011 @ 3:34pm
Rating: Five stars. The cut-in base for the new tower is a very bold and ultra-modern touch. At first I thought it looked odd but the more I looked at it the more admiration I had for the designers. The plan is superb and this building will fittingly be seen as the vanguard for 21st century architecture. May God bless the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and their families and friends. We will never forget.

BILL
Friday, March 18th, 2011 @ 1:06am
Rating: Two stars. its very disappointing that it will only be 82 stories. the only reason its tall is because of that ugly needle at the top. they should make it more massive by adding more stories and making it fatter

Michelle
Wednesday, March 16th, 2011 @ 9:20am
Rating: Five stars. Well done. This is a beautifull building.

Chris
Tuesday, March 15th, 2011 @ 8:19pm
Rating: One star. This building is a national disgrace and there is absolutely nothing unique about it at all. Go visit a city such as Shanghai or Tokyo sometime and you'll notice that there's plenty of Freedumb Tower look a likes. Yes this building does represent moving on. It represents moving on to an America where the elites such as the Bloombergs, Patakis, and the Silversteins call the shots instead of the people. Gee that's something to look forward to alright. Too bad I can't give this building a zero stars, it truly deserves it.

Yerelin
Saturday, March 12th, 2011 @ 4:16pm
Rating: Two stars. i am so disappointed. how you are telling me this building is going to be 82-stories?, come on what is this. the port authority should do this 110-stories like the original towers, or may be more. thinking about "if other attack, or demolition happen". if it's going to happen again, it's goint to happen no matter what. i was expecting something better than this. i dont really like the model of this building, but is ok though.

Nathan
Saturday, March 5th, 2011 @ 11:00am
Rating: One star. In my opinion if they are rebuilding the Twin Towers they need to look the the way the did before the attack.

Dwayne
Saturday, February 12th, 2011 @ 8:00am
Rating: Five stars. We have to learn to accept change It was ahorrible tragedy that happened that day.Whyrebuild an exact replicaof the old towers.Letsremember the way they were and move foward tobuild something new.I bet those builings willbe beautilful to the skyline when their done.So lets "get her done"!

Jake
Thursday, February 10th, 2011 @ 11:44pm
Rating: Two stars. This structure will be NO SAFER than the original buildings that were there. ANY building that is struck by an aircraft of that size and full of fuel is going to come down. Remember the surrounding buildings also collapsed due to the fires and NOT from being weakened by the collapse of the two towers!! If it were up to me those original towers would have been restored in their EXACT footprint exactly as they were originally built.

Travis
Sunday, February 6th, 2011 @ 4:53pm
Rating: Two stars. What can I say. Why go out of our way to express ourselves, when we can make it look like every other building in N.Y.

Somebody
Monday, January 31st, 2011 @ 10:54pm
Rating: Five stars. hey i live right on the river side in brooklyn i could see the old twin towers they guna be missed but i wana see this new tower up it looks amazing in the computer simulations. I watched the old towers fall with my own eyes and now im watching the new one be built i can honestly say it wont be anything close to the old towers but you gota look into the future i jsut wish they would build it faster

Ivette
Sunday, January 30th, 2011 @ 8:22pm
Rating: Five stars. I think the freedom tower is gonna look so beautiful when it's done. I would love to see it @ night.

Tyler Depol
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011 @ 2:32pm
Rating: Five stars. I think the FreedomTower looks so cool! ButI am sad that the TwinTowers are gone.